A Place Under the Malaysian Sun I

The land that my forefathers helped build August 13, 2008 - People's Parliament ... ‘UiTM is for Bumiputeras — that’s the strong message from more than 5,000 Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) student’, reports NST. “Jangan Rampas Hak Kami” What Bumiputeras? What ‘hak’? Someone must tell them that the document that our forefathers left us with, the Federal Constitution, makes no mention of Bumiputera. And Article 153 talks only of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong safeguarding the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak of such proportion as he may deem reasonable of positions in the public service (other than the public service of a State) and of scholarships, exhibitions and other similar educational or training privileges or special facilities given or accorded by the Federal Government and, when any permit or licence for the operation of any trade or business is required by federal law, then, subject to the provisions of that law and this Article, of such permits and licences. Special position. Not rights and privileges. And that special position was envisaged by the forefathers of this nation, as explained in the Reid Commission report, to be reviewable after 15 years. In other words, not in perpetuity. ...more